A steering committee will meet for the first time this week to begin discussions for the city’s new five-year economic recovery and vitality plan.

The City Council last month passed a resolution of support for development of the plan, which will focus on economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as four other areas: workforce development; equity and inclusion for populations facing barriers to economic mobility; small business support and growth; and growth concept oriented economic development (workforce housing and the creation of jobs).

The group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 3. The public is invited to watch the meeting on the Zoom app.

Committee members were appointed by Mayor Lioneld Jordan, and is chaired by Meredith Lowry and Mervin Jebaraj. Other members include City Council Member Sonia Gutierrez, Nicole Calhoun, Mary McGetrick, Jeannette Balleza Collins, Elvis Moya, Bo Counts, Sarah Goforth, Molly Rawn, Sarah Lewis, Jordan Garner, Allison Quinlan, Lisa Hotsenpiller, Eileen Jennings, Sterling Hamilton, Steve Clark, Jeff Amerine, Dr. Pete Kohler, Kent Watson, Brian Crowne, Quintin Canada, Tim Conklin, Angela DeLille and Keaton Smith.

» Download the agenda for the meeting

The city and its economic vitality consulting contractors will serve as support staff for the group.

Public input sessions, focus groups, surveys and other public engagement opportunities are currently being planned, according to Devin Howland, the city’s director of economic vitality.

Howland said he expects the plan to be delivered to the City Council for review in early fall of this year.

More information about the project is at www.fayetteville-ar.gov/economicrecovery.